"I never heard it doubted before."
"It is impossible there should be a world."
"It ain't possible there shouldn't be a world."
"Just so." At this moment a fine ewe, attended by a lamb, rushed into the circle and fondled the knees of the shepherd. "I suppose you would not care to have some milk?" said the man.
"Why do you suppose so?"
"Because, so be, there be no sheep, no milk, you know; and what there ben't is not worth having."
"You could not have argued better," said I, "that is, supposing you have argued; with respect to the milk you may do as you please."
"Be still, Nanny," said the man; and producing a tin vessel from his scrip, he milked the ewe into it. "Here is milk of the plains, master," said the man, as he handed the vessel to me.
"Where are those barrows and great walls of earth you were speaking of?" said I, after I had drunk some of the milk; "are there any near where we are?"